About Us

Founded by Nigel Standish, Uprooted and Ready LLC is a survival school just north of Charlottesville, Virginia. Situated on 80 acres, it’s in a prime location for an immersive experience with nature. Uprooted and Ready strives to provide students, of all levels, skills they need to survive and thrive in the wilderness, at work, school, and home.

Nigel earned a PhD in education from the University of Virginia and has more than 20 years of experience teaching both children and adult learners. He is passionate about equipping young people and adults with useful life skills and has dedicated years of research and practice to learning effective teaching strategies and leadership skills.

As a former United States Air Force Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialist, Nigel’s job was to teach military personnel to survive in hostile environments anywhere in the world. In his courses at Uprooted and Ready, Nigel expertly combines his passion for education with practical survival skills to empower students to thrive in all environments.  

Additionally, Nigel is a licensed teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia and has traveled to over 40 countries to speak on education and leadership and participate in humanitarian work.